SAN FRANCISCO - (INT) – The California Public Utilities Commission has levied its biggest safety-related penalty. It’s ordered Pacific Gas and Electric to pay $1.4 billion for the San Bruno gas pipeline rupture.

The blast in 2010 turned a Bay Area neighborhood into an inferno that killed eight people and destroyed several homes.

The penalty was based on four decisions by two Administrative Law judges. They found that PG&E committed 3,798 violations of state and federal laws and standards involving the operations and practices of its gas transmission system pipeline. Many of the violations continued for years.

Most of the penalty will go into California’s General fund with the balance spread among pipeline improvements and more than 75 remedies to enhance pipeline safety.

PG&E issued a statement Tuesday saying “Since the 2010 explosion of our natural gas transmission pipeline in San Bruno, we’ve been dedicated to re-earning the trust of our customers and the communities we serve. We are deeply sorry for this tragic event."

Story Date: September 6, 2014